Articles posted May 9, 2007

Headlines and features from the Thoroughbred industry

Juan J. Reviriego, who trained several group winners in his native Argentina, looks to 7-year-old Fitz Flag to help him break through with his first U.S. stakes victory in the $250,000 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap (gr. IIT).

Officials with Magna Entertainment spent a good deal of time May 9 highlighting the company's continued attack on staggering debt, and how it will correct an admittedly disappointing start for the slots operations at Gulfstream Park.

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer raised the possibility that a decision on who will be the next Thoroughbred racing franchise-holder in the state might not be made before the legislature ends its session near the end of June.

TVG May 9 announced that it reached an agreement with Dubai Sports Channel to significantly increase international exposure for American Thoroughbred horseracing by making the programming available to more than eight million homes across the Arabian Peninsula.

ReRun's selection of Moneighs by classic contenders and champions will appear on eBay beginning May 20. The popular paintings created by famous racehorses including John Henry, Victory Gallop, and Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winners Giacomo and Gato del Sol are sold to benefit ReRun's retired Thoroughbreds in need of second careers.

Silks embellished with Maker's Mark's signature red sealing wax design and autographed by this year's Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel and several other riders will be auctioned off to raise funds for the Mint Jubilee Charities.

A settlement has been reached in Jim McIngvale's lawsuit against multiple parties, according to a document filed in a Texas federal court May 3, paving the way for an end to the high-profile legal dispute involving alleged sales commission fraud.

A movie about the life and times of Secretariat, with the backing of Walt Disney Studios, is in the works. Filming for the major motion picture could begin as soon as the end of the year according to principles tied to the project.

Youbet.com directed more criticism at the controversial content alliance of Churchill Downs and Magna Entertainment May 8, with one executive telling analysts during an earnings conference that the partners in TrackNet Media Group "ended up shooting not only themselves, but an entire industry."